Earthquake News: 3.4 Quake Strikes Near Ridgecrest, CA
Earthquake News: Ridgecrest residents were rattled Thursday night when a 3.4 quake occurred at 9:33 PM, 30 miles from Ridgecrest, CA.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, there have been five earthquakes in a 3.0 magnitude or greater in that region in the last 10 days.
While quakes are common in that area, the last severe shaker occurred in July with 6.4 magnitude foreshock, followed by the 7.1 magnitude mainshock the next day.
It was this earthquake series that set off over 100,000 aftershocks, leaving major nearby faults strained in the aftermath.
“I was surprised to see how much complexity there was and the number of faults that ruptured,” said Eric Fielding, who co-authored the study that looked into the fault system from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
The July Ridgecrest quakes involved 20 or so previously unknown intersecting faults, which broke faults to the right angles of each other, making this earthquake sequence quite unique.
“It’s going to force people to think hard about how we quantify seismic hazard and whether our approach to defining faults needs to change,” Ross added. “We can’t just assume that the largest faults dominate the seismic hazard if many smaller faults can link up to create these major quakes.”
California is no stranger to earthquakes or earthquake news, though. Scientists estimate on average that 234 earthquakes occur every year, between 3.0 and 4.0 magnitudes, in California and Nevada.
If you live in California, it’s important to take extra precaution – because you never know when the “Big One” will strike.
To prepare for the next big earthquake, you should keep an earthquake emergency kit in your home with enough food, water, and medication to last every person and pet in your household for at least three days.
In addition to supplies, it’s important to have your property inspected for any foundation damage or necessary seismic upgrades.
Most older homes in Southern California are lacking the modern reinforcements necessary to protect the property from damage and/or destruction if a large quake were to occur.
It’s these same structural vulnerabilities that lead to the destruction of numerous homes and commercial buildings in and around Ridgecrest after the large quakes this summer.
If you think you own a property that’s in need of earthquake retrofitting, contact Julian Construction today.
You can schedule a free inspection with us, where we’ll send over one of our qualified foundation specialists to inspect and analyze the area in order to determine the best way to strengthen and secure the building.
To schedule a free inspection with Julian Construction, click here or call us now at 877-407-3876. A representative will review the information you provide and contact you to schedule your inspection.
